Today's News

Gita Poldema Barker shares her love story in the wake of WWII with the Friends of the Williston Library Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. The story of her life, love, loss and new beginning has been told in a book The Long Walk Home.

Sheriff Johnny Smith ignored the advice of two internal disciplinary boards and reduced the punishment recommended for a deputy who admitted he used his Taser on a pet on several occasions.

Deputy Charles Johnson Jr., the son of the department's No. 2 in command — Col. Mike Johnson, will not serve the three-day unpaid suspension, but instead get a written reprimand for tasing his German shepherd Kaiser.

An academically ineligible player has caused Williston High School to forfeit its winning football and basketball seasons.

“We simply made a mistake that left one of our students academically ineligible, who played for the football team this season and the basketball team this year, up to Friday, Jan. 29,” said Williston Principal John Lott, accepting full responsibility for the egregious error.

After more than four hours of testimony from sides supporting and opposing an exotic animal sanctuary in Morriston, the Levy County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously denied the special exception application.

Between 60-70 people filled the courtroom Monday night to listen to Dr. Suzanne Billiar, an exotic animal owner and veterinarian, ask for a special exception to home more than 45 animals on a 3.5 acre tract of land that is zoned AR–agricultural/residential.

Convicted murdered Berny Serrano’s appeals of his conviction in the execution style death of Jacob Langworthy are at an end.

Serrano, who was challenging the use of a confession he gave to investigators the day after Langworthy was murdered during a home invasion and robbery by five teens, lost his bids at the 1st District Court of Appeal last summer and at the Florida Supreme Court on Jan. 4, almost 5 years to the day he murdered Jacob Langworthy 18.

Michael Dudley Dickson, 52 and Steven Lewis, 50, both of Alachua were arrested Jan. 26 and charged with grand theft when they allegedly removed a roll of high wire electric line from Hwy. 121 and then concocted a story that they purchased the wire, complete with a receipt from a person who does not exist. Bond for Dickson was $6,000 and Lewis was $11,000.

Corporations and foreign interests now have more to say in our elections than you or I, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court. Two weeks ago, the Court broadened the status of corporate personhood with its 5 to 4 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Corporate personhood is the doctrine that corporations are considered to be individual persons in the eyes of the law. Any corporation, thanks to this incredibly obtuse interpretation of the intent of the U.S.

It was a close game with the out come going down to the wire. Two free throws by sophomore Deterion Ross, and a lay up, followed by two free throws by senior Isaac Floyd, and a lay up by junior Jacques Edwards in the final 47.8 seconds lifted the Red Devils to a 64-60 win over the Santa Fe Raiders. Ross had 4 points in the game all coming in the last 2 minutes of play.

It was a jammed packed full house that rose to their feet for the last minute of play with every fan from both sides yelling support for their team.